Bloomin’ invasive plants

IT’S the time of year when the rhododendron blooms, standing out from most other plants in all its deep red, purple and cerise splendour. The rhodo looks magnificent and little wonder that it get a mention in romantic songs. However, the wild rhodo is in a category of plants with a bad name: “invasive species’’ that were brought into the country.

Let’s stress that not all invasive species are undesireable, but the rhodo is a threat to other plants and has been the target of an eradication campaign in Killarney National Park that has been going on for well over 30 years.

Ironically, the rhodo is, arguably, the best looking plant in the park at present, even if hundreds of thousands of euros are spent each year in efforts to remove it. Problem is that it spreads very quickly and prevents the regeneration of oak and yew woods.

A native of the Black Sea region and the Iberian peninsula, it was introduced into Ireland in the early 19th century.

On a broader scale, there’s been a call on the EU to take urgent action to halt the spread of invasive species that are threatening native plants and animals across Europe. The threats posed by these species cost an estimated €12bn each year, according to Professor Jaimie Dick from the Institute for Global Food Security at the School of Biological Sciences, in Queens’ University, Belfast.

Invasive species are among the major threats to native animals and plants in Europe. The call to action follows the publication of a paper, Tackling Invasive Alien Species in Europe: the Top 20 Issues. The report’s authors say it should inform future EU policy for managing invasive species.

The paper resulted from an international meeting of 150 experts in Galway last year to identify the critical issues for tackling invasive species in Europe.

“Invasive species cost an estimated €12bn each year across Europe. Their impact ranges from upsetting native ecosystems, to damaging the physical environment and even threatening human and animal health; hence the cost to agriculture, fisheries and forestry, as well as the expense of control and eradication programmes,’’ says Prof Dick.

In Ireland, Japanese Knotweed has become a pest since being introduced in the mid-1800’s. It smothers native plants and can also damage buildings and walls.

Progress is being reported with efforts to remove Japanese Knotweed in Killarney town. In response to a query from Cllr Michael Gleeson, the town council says its eradication programme has been successful in the last three years.